Turbotransmission



July 25,1944. J. JA bAsj KQ ,35

TURBO TRANSMISSION Original Filed March 25, 1937 2 Ei; .L P4

INVENTORM \isefw Patented July 25, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,354,597

TURBOTRANSMISSION Original application March 2 5, 1937, Serial No.-

132,925. Divided and this application February 14, 1941, Serial N0. 378,841

19 Claims.

This invention relates to transmissions and more particularly to regenerative power transmitting means whereby variable torque may be exerted on a driven shaft in accordance with the load to which'the driven shaft is subjected.

In the transmission of power by mechanical gearing such for example as by the use of a stepped transmission wherein varying gear ratios are employed, it is necessary that the driving shaft exert sufllcientpower through the mechanical gearing to move the maximum load to which the driven shaft is subjected. In power transmitting devices wherein the load varies through wide limits, an involved stepped transmission having many different gear ratios is required to provide a desired degree of flexibility of driving characteristics.

Where regenerative power transmitting means of the type contemplated herein are employed it is possible to exert great power on the driven shaft without complicating the structure by providing a multi-stage transmission and, without providing means to exert suflicient power on the driving shaft to move the driven shaft when sub-' jected to maximum load.

An object of this invention is therefore to provide regenerative power transmitting. means wherein a portion of the applied power may be passed directly to-a driven shaft and a portion of the applied power may be redirected to be again exerted. on the driving shaft.

Another object resides in the provision of power transmitting means wherein 'a portion of the power is transmitted from a driving to a driven shaft through mechanical gearing and the remainder of the applied power is regenerated through liquid actuated power transmitting means to be again exerted on a driving shaft.

A further object resides in the provision .of planetary gearing-between driving and driven shafts wherein a portion of the power exerted by the driving shaft; is exerted through the planetary gearingdirectly to the driven shaft and p Still another object is to provide a power transmitting mechanism wherein power exerted bya driving shaft is divided into two paths, a portion flowing directly to the driven shaft and another portion flowing through regenerativ means toexeita driving force on the driving shaft and wherein the proportion of power transmitted through each of the-paths varies in accordance 65 pinlonsiil interposed between a ring Bear 20 car-, -v

. driven shaft and the remainder of the power is regenerated through ifluid pressure operated means to be exerted back on the driving shaft.

Yet a still further object resides in the provision of means responsive to the speed and torque of-the driven shaft to vary the torque transmitting characteristics of a fluid actuated power transmitting; device interposed in a regenerative power transmitting'mechanism associated with driving and driven shafts.

r in the accompanying drawing, since the inven- I Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, submitted for purposes of illustration only, and not intended to define the scope of the invention, reference being had for that purpose to thesubjoined claims.

In the drawing wherein similar reference charactrs refer to similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a power transmitting device embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modifled form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the operation ofthe device illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a still further modified form of the invention.

Fig, 5 is also a longitudinal sectional view of another modified form' of the invention.

Before explaining-in -detail the present invention it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction andarrangement of parts illustrated tion is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried'out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it --is not intended to limit the, invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now to Fig. 1, it will be observed that a driving shaft I 0 is provided to transmit power to a driven shaft II. The driving shaft III is provided with a flange it having a plurality of spaced projections it which support spaced ried by a flange 22 operably'connected to the driven shaft 12 and a sun gear 24 concentrically mounted relative to the driving shaft The sun gear 24 is provided with a radially extending-flange 26 which carries an impeller web 28 having arranged thereon suitable vanes to provide a fluid energizing impeller channel 30. The impeller channel 30 terminates in alignment with a turbine channel 32 including suitable vanes carried by a turbine web 34 mounted on a turbine hub 36 suitably attached to the driving shaft l0. 4

A rotatable housing 38 is concentrically mounted relative to the driving and driven shafts and provides a passage 48 for the return of the liquid from the turbine channel 32 to the impeller channel 38.

A sleeve 42 rotatably mounted on the driven shaft I2 is extended through a stationary member 44 and a one-way brake 46 is interposed between the sleeve and stationary member whereby the sleeve 42 may rotate freely in one direction and may be held against rotation in the opposite direction.

Guide wheel means including suitable vanes 48 may be introduced into or withdrawn from the invention which is similar in certain respects to the embodiment of 1. Corresponding parts have therefore been .given corresponding reference numerals'with the addition of 100.

It will be observed that the sun gear I24 is.

provided witha sleeve ill. having a gear H3 power transmitting fluid circuit as for example between the outlet from the channel 48 and the inlet to the impeller channel 30. The guide wheel 48 may be carried by a flange 58 fixed to a sleeve 52 mounted on suitable threads between it and the relatively fixed sleeve 42 in such a manner that the guide' wheel 48 may move axially relative to the driven shaft l2 into or out of the power transmitting fluid circuit. The

sleeve 52 may be provided with-a piston 54 slidably mounted in a cylinder 68 formed between the sleeve 42 and a stationary member 56. Yielding means such for'example as a spring 58 may be provided to yieldingly urge the guide wheel 48 into the power transmitting fluid circuit, thereby increasing the force exerted by the fluid reaction in the fluid circuit tending to move the guide wheel into the circuit.

Means may be provided to variably resist the force urging .the guide wheel into the power transmitting fluid circuit. One desirable form of such means includes. torque responsive means such for example as subjecting the cylinder 68 to variations of manifold pressure in such a manner that the piston 54 will be urged outwardly to withdrawthe guide.wheel from the power transmitting fluid circuitgwhen the torque transmitted is low and to permit the guide wheel to be moved into the fluid circuit when the torque transmitted reaches a substantially predetermined high value.

A vent 62 may be provided to vent the cylinder 68 behind the piston 54 to atmosphere. The vent 32 maybe suitably calibrated to meter the flow o'f fluid between the cylinder lillbehind the piston 54 and the atmosphere to provide a dashpoteffect thereby cushioning movement of the piston 54 in the cylinder 88.

The cylinder 88 may be subjected to variations .in manifold pressure' by means of a conduit 64 having a valve therein.' The valve 66 may be controlled by an arm 68 which supports a solenoid core 10 received by the winding 12 of the solenoid. The solenoid may be energized by means of electric conduits 14 to urge the plunger upwardly relative to the winding I2 to open the valve against the resistance of a spring 16.

meshing with a gear 5 suitably mounted in a casing III forming a primary pump to produce fluid pressure and transmit itthrough a conduit H9 (Fig. 3) to the interior of a casing. I2l housing suitable gears I23 and I25. The pressure applied through the conduit H9 drives thegears I23 and I25 of a-motor. The gear I25 of the motor is fixed to the driving shaft H0 in such a manner that power is regenerated andapplied to the driving shaft 0. The casing I2l is provided with a conduit. I21 interconnecting the casing I with the casing ll! of the gear pump 3-.

H5 to return liquid to the primary pump.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 is similar in many respects to the embodiment of Fig. 1. Corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition of 200.

The sun gear 224 is provided with a sleeve 23| having an eccentric 233 which receives a con-' the cpnnecting'rod 241 suitably mounted on an eccentric 249 fixed to the driving shaft 2). The

conduit 24! may be controlled by a suitablespring pressed valve '25l to maintain the conduit closed until the pressure developed within the. cylinder 239 approaches a substantially prede termined value.

The embodiment of Fig. 5'is similar in certain respects to the embodiment of Fig." 1. Corresponding parts have therefore been given corresponding reference numerals with the addition which carries an armature 351 cooperating with a stator or magnet 359 to generate electrical energy and transmit it toan armature 38f of a motor. The armature 36! is fixed'to the driving shaft 3) in'such a manner as to exert a driving force to rotate the driving shaft 3l8.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 132,925, filed March 25, 1937.

Iclaini; 3

1. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, and regenerative power transmitting means including fluid energizing and energy absorbing means interposed between the driving and driven shafts and comprising planetary gearing operably connected to transmit power to the driven shaft and to redirect power to the driving shaft,.and a rotatable housing concentrically mounted on the driving and driven shafts and enclosing said means.

2. A power transmitting device comprising a driving. shaft, planetary gearing carried by the driving shaft, a driven shaft, connecting means between the planetary gearing and the driven shaft, connecting means between the planetary gearing and the driving shaft comprising a fluid The electric conduits 14 may be operably conoperated turbodevice having an impeller surrounding the planetary gearing whereby-a varying proportion of power exerted on the driving shaft may beredirected through; the fluid circuit to the driving shaft.

3. In a turbotransmission, a driving shaft, a

driven shaft, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts, and fluid operated power transmitting means including an impeller surrounding the planetary gearing and driven thereby and a turbine operably connected to the driving shaft to redirect a varying proportion of the power back to the driving shaft.

'4. A power transmitting device comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts, regenerative fluid power transmitting means in-.

cluding an impeller driven by the planetary gearing, a turbine directly connected to the driving shaft, the impeller and turbine members eooperating to' form a power transmitting fluid circuit,

astationary member, guide wheel means adapted to beintroduced into thepower. transmitting fluid circuit to operate thefluld power transmitting means as a torque converter or to bewith- Y I the ring gear and the driven shaft, a sun gear engaging the planet pinions, andregenerative fluid operated driving means between the sun gear 'and the driving shaft and having a fluid energizing impeller surrounding said pinions and gears.

6. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing interposed between the driving and driven shafts to transmit aportion of the power directly from the driving shaft to the driven shaft, and fluid actuated means including a driving member surrounding the planetary gearing and a driven member directly connected to the driving shaft for returning the remainder of said power to the driving shaft.

7. A power transmitter comprising driving and driven shafts, planetary gearing between the driving and driven shafts, regenerative powertransmitting means comprising a fluid-energizing member surrounding the planetary gearing and operably connected to the-planetary gearing and an energy-absorbing member connected to the driving shaft and cooperating with the fluidenergizing member to form a power-transmitting fluid circuit whereby at slow speeds or heavy loads the majority of the power transmitted may be redirected to and exerted on the driving shaft and whereby at light'loads or high speeds the majority of the power may be transmitted directly to the driven shaft.

8. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, 9. flange associated with the driving shaft, a plurality of spaced planet pinions carried by the flange, a ring gear engaging the planet pinions, a driven shaft, connecting means between the ring gear and the driven shaft, a. sun gear engaging the planet pinions, regenerative driving means including an impeller surrounding the pinions and gears and operably connected to the sun gear, a turbinedirectly connected to the driving shaft, and afluid passage interconnecting the'outlet from the turbine with the 'inlet of the impeller. 1

9. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing interconnecting the driving and driven shafts, regenerative power transmitting means between the driving and driven shafts comprising a turbounit having an impeller driven by the planetary gearing, a turbine carried by the driving shaft,

and a substantially u-shaped channel wherebyfluid may. be directed from the outlet of the turbine to the inlet of the impeller.

10. In a power'transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing interconnecting the driving and driven shafts, regenerative power transmitting means between the driving and driven shafts comprising a, turbounit having an impeller driven by the planetary earing, a turbine carriedby the driving shaft, 9. substantially U-shaped channel whereby fluid may be directed from the outlet of the turbine to the inlet of the impeller a stationary member, a -"guide wheel, connecting means between the .guide wheel and stationary member whereby the guide wheel may be introduced into the power transmitting fluid circuit to operate the turbounit as a torque converter or withdrawn from the fluid circuit to operatethe turbounit as a turboclutch, means including a cylinder influencing the position of the guide wheel, means to subject the cylinder-to variations of fluid pressure in i proportion to variations of torque, an orifice communicating with the cylinder whereby the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder maybe metered to give a dashpot effect,

11. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, regenerative power transmitting means between the driving and'driven shafts comprising a turbounit having an impeller driven by the planetarygearing, a turbine carried by the driving shaft, means whereby the guide wheel may be introduced into the power transmitting fluid circuit to operate the turbounit as a torque converter or withdrawn therefrom to operate the device as a turboclutch, means in- .cluding a piston slidably mounted in a cylinder influencing the position of I the guide wheel, means to subject the cylinder to variations of fluid pressure in proportion to variations of torque, an orifice communicating with the cylinder whereby the flow of fluid to and from the cylinder maybe metered to cushion and retard movement of the piston in the cylinder.

12. A regenerative power transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a gearing system connecting the shafts, an impeller housing the gearing system and connected thereto, and a. turbine on the driving shaft for cooperation with the impeller.

13. A regenerative power transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing coupling the shafts, a fluid power transmission including an impeller housing the planetary gearing, and operatively connected thereto, and a turbine'on the driving shaft for cooperation with the impeller.

14. A regenerative power transmission comprising a driving shaft,'a driven shaft, a gearing system coupling the shafts, an impeller mounted for free rotation on the shafts, said impeller enclosing the gearing system and operatively connected thereto, and a turbine on the driving shaft for cooperation with the impeller. 15. A regenerative power transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driyen shaft, mechani cal power transmission means coupling the shafts, and fluid power transmission means rotatably mounted on the driving and driven shafts andhousing the mechanical transmission means and connected between the driving shaft and the mechanical transmission means.

16. A regenerative power transmission com-.

I the impeller providing in conjunction therewitha .fluid circuit, and a reaction member movable into and out of the circuit under the influence of dynamic pressure on .the fluid in the unit.

17. A regenerative power transmission comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft, a gearing system connected between the shafts, a fluid power. transmitting unit including an impeller connected in the gearing system and providin a housing therefor, a turbine on the driving shaft for cooperation with the impeller providing in conjunction therewith a fluid circuit, a reaction member movable into and out -of the circuit under the influence of dynamic pressure on the fluid in the unit, and a housing supported on the driving shaft providing a passage for circulation of fluid between the turbine and the impeller.

18. In a power transmitting device, a driving shaft, a driven shaft, planetary gearing between the driving and driven shafts, an auxiliary path of power flow extending parallel to the planetary concentrically mounted on the driving and driven shafts and enclosing the planetary gearing and the auxiliary path of power.

19. A variable speed transmission comprising a drive shaft, a driven shaft coaxial therewith, a fluid torque converter and a planetary gear construction, said fluid torque converter comprising a drive rotor, a stator and a driven rotor, said planetary gear construction comprising a sun 'gear, a ring gear, a gear carrier and planetary gearing carried by said gear carrier and meshing with said'sun gear and ring gear, said gear carrier being connected to rotate with said drive shaft, said ring gear being connected to rotate with said driven shaft, and said torque converter serving totransmit power between said sun gear and one of said shafts, said drive rotor being con nected to rotate with the sun gear and said JOSEPH JANDASEK. 

